Drying and shaping structure for drying lace hosiery



T. F. OCONNELL. DRYING AND SHAPING STRUCTURE FORYDRYING LAC-E HOI'SERY.

. APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, I919- 1 ,402,532;

Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

\ I ThomasfO 'Cbnnel/ T. F. OCONNE'LL zonvme AND SHAPING STRUCTURE FOR DRYING LACE HOISERY.

Patented Jan. 3, 192 2.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27.1919- 3 sums-sum AHH T. F. OCONNELL. DRYING AND SHAFlNG STRUCTURE FOR DRYiNG LACE HOISERY.

APPLICATION. ElLED MAY 27,1919- Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- un tes-stares PATENT orr cs.

THOMAS E. ocoivnnnn, or criroaeoginnmois, ASSIGNOR To PARAMOUNT, HosIERY roam DRYING coyor CHICAGO, ILnnvoIs, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

; rav ne AND snarme STRUCTURE FOR DRYING LACE HOSIERY.

raeaese.

A neauon fi1ed May 27,

To all 'w/wmitmay concern:

Cook and State of Illinois, have invented";

certain .new and. useful Improvements in Drying andShaping Structures for Drying I Lace Hosiery, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyin drawing.

This invention re ates to hosiery drying and shapingstructures, and has especial reference to a. drying'form or board adapted for treating so-called lace. or French stockings, that is, hosiery or a stock ing, which adjacent the ankle-portion thereof, is composed of a lace-formation, or of a drop-stitch construction.

The object of the invention is, primarily, to provide a device of the kindspecified that is adapted to apply heat tothe internal surface of the fabric of the article and also toeflect a shaping of the same by means made effective on such internal surface; the (lesideration being to dry and simultaneously shape the hosiery in a single operation. and by a single instrumentality, the shaping involving the creasing of the hosiery along oppositely disposedlines, and a simultaneous flattening and smoothing of the article intermediate the creases, so that it will lie approximately flat when the drying and shaping operations are completed.

A more specific object of the invention is simultaneously to dry and finish hosiery suitable for the market; in other words, by utilizing a particular mode of procedure and 3y using the instrumentality constituting my invention, the hosiery will be creased at its sides, flattened, ironed and smoothed at the front and rear portions the heel shaped and formed, etc, and have an ironed and finished appearance, such that no subsequent operations, other than marking, handing and packaging the same, are required.

A still further object within the contema plation of my invention is to provide a suitable device for, drying and shaping so-, called lace or drop-stitch hosiery, such that the creaseswill be at the sidesin contradistinction to the position of such creases in the more usualtypes of seamless and fullfashioned hosieryand in whichthe foot portion,'instead of being angulated in relation to the leg portion ofthe article, lies Specification of Letters Patent. -Patented Jan. 3, 1 22.

1919. S eria1; No.-300,137.'

flatpbut with the heel section properly formed and'prefer'ably outstanding from the plane of the surface of the rear side of the stock ngu r 7 1 Still another object of the'invention is to provide a structure in which the seam of a full-fashioned stocking is orv may be precisely linedup centrally of the article .and

in a substantially straight line from the toe,

along the heel, and through out the leg portion. a

With these and other objects in view, the

invention resides in the structure, in the shaping-sections thereof, and pin the arrangement therein for heating the same whereby it may impart its heat tolthe stocking and thereby effect rapid evaporation of all water or moisture therein. and, at the same time, to finish the article completely and ready for the trade.

. In order that the invention may more readily be understood, I have illustrated a preferred form of the structure in the accompanying drawings; these being merely illustrative of an embodiment of my inventive concept; it being understood that the structure is suspectible of considerable variation and modification without depart ing from the spirit of the invention and without sacrificing any i of the underlying principles and salient features thereof.

In .these drawings: i 1

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the form, with the heel-shaping portion shown as outstanding therefrom;

Figure 2 is a similar view of the opposite siclgof the structure;

improved hosiery drying and shaping form;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale in longitudinal vertical section on the line 44, Fig; 2;

Figurefi is a similar view on the line 55, ise Figure-'6 is also a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale partly in section, similar to Fig. 5 and showing a portion of a stocking thereon with the seam 0f the stocking being shown in its operative position in the seamreceiving groove formed on the heel-side of the device Figure 7 is a view in perspective of the drying and shaping form with a stocking disposedthereon, portions of the latter 'be-.

n igure 3 is a view in edge elevation ofthe tions of-its parts in respect tothe effective portions of the drying and shaping form; I

Fi ure 8 is-a fra 'mentar' view in erispective of a modified form of structure in VlllClLiZhB heel shaping sectionthereof extends longitudinally of the form instead of transverselythereof as in: the preferred type of' structure; and I V Figure 9 is also a fragmentarywiew in elevation, partly in section, of another: modif fica'tion in which the form is solid instead of hollow. V f 7 :As is well known inrthe" art, there are two general types of hosiery now manufactured; one of'these beingthe socalle d"seamless type of hosiery (which isknit in tubular form) andthe other is the so-called fullfash'ioned (which is knit in a flat'shape and fashioned, then sewed to form a seamat the rear). It is the practice, nowadays, to knit or produce these two types of hosiery with more orless fancy or artistic forma tions at the homer the articleadjacent the ankle-portion j thereof. These formations comprise either a drop-stitch construction, lace work, 'or figured imprints. that theseornate formations may be more effectively and conveniently displayed, as when the hosiery is boxed, as well as when disposed for exhibition in show windows and the like, the practicevhas developed of presenting the fancy p'ortion of the hosiery at the front andfto dispose the heel more or .less out of sight, To t 1lS end, the front and rear portions offthe article are so treated as to lie flat, with crease-formations at the junc-r tion of theiso-called front and rear portions. The heel, which is formed when thearticle is beingknit, stands Toutmore less from the body portion ofthe article. 1 V

It 'isto be understood that my invent-ion has utility in connection with both of the aforementioned types of hosiery. In so far as'it involves the simultaneous drying and shaping of moist, that is, wet hosiery by subjecting the internal surface of certain portions of'such hosiery to; a flattening, smoothingtor ironing action, simultaneously with ftheveffecting' of crease-like formations at. other portions whereby the article will be caused to assume'a flattened shape, and dur ing which treatment of thehosiery the fabric thereof is simultaneously dried and set by the application of, heat to the internal surfaceof the same so'that the articlewill retain its flattened shape, my invention utilizes the principles of'the method disclosed in U. S, Patent No.- 1,20'4l,-945, granted Nov.

1415,1916, onfthe invention of'George Gollis. Inso far as the device includes ajmet'al drying and shaping form, relatively thin in cross section, and hollow to contain" a heat 7 ing medium,:and having portionsfof its sides I beveledto produce relatively reduced edges r and being curved intermediateof such edges In order fabric of the hosierywhen in contact thererear portions thereof, and since the foot P01491011; 1s not, angulated, in forming the stocking while drying, and as the heel section of the article iscto be formed so 'asto be folded downagainst the bodyportion of the hosiery, the; presentinve'ntion is differentiated from the devices disclosed in'the patents aforementioned, and includes features for producing-novel results not contemplated in those patents. device of the present invention may, if

desired, be "used in conjunction with the practice of applying heat externallyto the article. Hence, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise type "and construction of hosiery drying and shaping forms herein disclosed; and, as exemplifying variations from this type, I have shown modifications thereof in Figs. 8 and 9.

Besides, the v Referring to these drawings andto Figs.

1 to 7 thereof, the reference-numeral 1 designates,,generally, a hosiery drying and shaping form which includes a foot portion as heel section 3, a leg portion *l, and a base portion 5. I 7

This is my preferred type of construction, and contemplates the provision of a channel or similar conduit 6 for the passage of steam or other thermal medium therethrough in order to heat the form and, thus, cause'it to impart aldrying heat to the hosiery af er the latter has been stretched 'on the form. The channel 6 extendsfrom the base portion to thetoe 7 of the form, and is divided by a partition G? (Figl) and the two open ings 8 at opposite sides of this partition in the base portion comniunicate'with apertures '9 in a steam-supplyingpipe 10 that'is cono effect crease formations in the hosiery which is boarded on the form, the latter is provided-with two oppositely. disposed, reduced, 'crease-produ'cing'edges 11 and, likewise, the toe'section'? of the foot portion 2 is provided with a crease-forming edge 12. The'sides 1'3 and 140ithe device between the crease-producing edges, are (preferably and as shown) curved to present arc-shaped surfaces ('13 and 14?, Fig. 7) adapted to, effeet a flattening and smoothing action of the remit in the heel ofthe hosiery. I

Where full-fashioned hosiery is to 'be' with," The arc-shaped, fabric-flattening surfaces preferably'extend throughout the entire length of the hosiery shaping form and down to the base portion, as shown; and 1t follows from'this that thefoot portion 2 has the curved, arc-shaped surfaces also.-

- To form the heel section of the hosiery boarded on the form, it is desirable that means he provided for lining up the seam thereof; and to this end the heel side 14 of the form is provided with a groove 18, preferably beginning adjacent the toe 7 and eX- tending up over the heel-forming section 15,

and along-the leg portion 1; this groove pref erably being disposed centrally so that the seamof the hosiery may be centered and thus, properly disposed with reference to the creasesin its sides In FigureS, I have shown a somewhat modified typeof form 19; the modification, in this, instance, involving a different arrangement of the heel section 20: Therein, the heel; section extends longitudinally of the form, instead of transversely as in the previously describedtype. This form of heel section maybe preferred by some manufacturers, where it is desired to have the heel of the hosiery folded longitudinally down against one side, rather than tohave the point 21 thereof'disposed centrally'oft-he article, as in thearrangement of Fig. 6. 1

In Figure 9, I have shown a still different modification; this involving a solid form 22 ,inade of metal, wood, or other appropri ate material, having a heel forming section '23 and otherwise of the general construction and formation of the hosierydrying and shaping form illustrated in F 1 to 7.

Operation: In practicing the so-called paramount method-disclosed in and covered by the aforementioned patent No. 1,20 -l-,94e5-with' the type of forms herein shown in Figs. 1 to S, the hosiery-which is more or less wet when received from the dyeing,bleaching or mereerizing bath of the dye house in the mill, and consequently requires drying and finishingis stretched by the boarder upon the form so that the top 24 of thehosiery may he pulled down as near as possible to the base 5 of the form. The heat of the form is such as immediately to start the evaporation of the moisture in the hosiery, and as'this evaporation continues,

hosiery,

heel forming surface on the' device';

thereof.

' the amt is set so that it 'wiu bettin fixed and retain the shapein which it is formed by the device. The shaping is effected simultaneously 'with the drying and setting of the fabric, and such shaping is accomplished by the curved sides'13 and 14 of the form which effect a flattening and smoothingactionwhile the crease-forming edges 11 produce crease formations in the sidesof the that is in the leg and foot portions After the stocking has been on the form for-from 3 or 4 to 10 or 15 minutes-- according to the weight of the yarn in the hosiery-the same will havebeen simultaneouslyidried and finished; whereuponthe operator strips the hosiery article from the form. It is then ready forjpairing, marking and packaging. v o

From the foregoing, it will be perceived that I have devised a'simplebut effective instrumentality for drying and simultaneously shaping hosiery of the-lace or drop-" stitch type wherein the creases are formed at the sides, rather than at the front and rear, and wherein .theheel is formed to outstand from the body of the fabric and then be folded or laid down in any desired way. 1

By reason of the characteristics set forth in the aforementioned Patent No. 1,207 196,

.I prefer to make the forin of aluminum, or

of a material which includes aluminum.

Since there is a tendency of the fabric to creep up on the form while drying and before the fabric sets, I find it desirableto provide means for preventing such a creep ing tendency; and, to this end, fabric-holding devices 25 are disposedon opposite sides of the form, as shown,- for example, in Figs. 1', 2, and 3. i V 1 VVhat Iclaim is 1'. hosiery drying and shaping form relatively thin "in cross-section and, having arc-shaped, fabric-flattening front and rear faces, the width dimensions of which vary intermediate the ends of the form, and hat ing, also, oppositely;disposed crease'p'roducing side edge, and including an elongatedleg-portion, a foot-portion extending in longitudinal alinement therewith, and an integral heel-section between the leg, and foot-portions and outstanding from the rear face thereof atthe lower end of and as a continuation of the foot-portion.

2. A hosiery drying and shaping form in- 'its front and rear faces arc-shaped, and having erease-producing edges, the heel-section extending from the rearface and also hollow. 1

3, A hosiery drying and shaping form includine an elon ated le ortion a footor- J.) D a b, Y 7

tion extending: in longitudinal alinement therewith, and a heel-section outstanding f'romiboth therleg and foot-portions botli theiileg' and; foot portions and the heel-section being hollow to contain a heatingnie; he 'heelrsection extending in a di at a substantial angle to theedges oft king an elongated leg-portion, a foot-portion in longitudinal 'aline menti there 7 a V diiun rection the form. V

41A hosiery drying and shaping form" relatively thin in cross-section and having arc-shaped fabric-flattening front and rear faeesiand oppositely-disposed crease-producingzedg'es andv including an elongated-leg, port1on, a fOOt-130ftlGIl extendlng 1n longitudinal alinement therewith; vand a heel "section outstanding from the rear-face of portion, tudinal ahnement therewlth,

the form between the leg and foot-portions and heel-section being hollow to contain a hea producingedges. V V, I 7 ,5. A5 hosiery drying and shapingform relatively thin in cross-sectionand having arc-shaped fabric-flattening front and rear faces and oppositely-disposed crease-producing edges and including anelongatedlega foot-portion extending in longisection outstanding frornthe rear face of the tion being'hollow to containaheating dium'; the heel-section belng formed on" the form between the leg and foot-portions and formed as a continuation of the :foot- 3ortion; theleg and foot-portions and the heel-secmerear face intermediate the crease-producing edges and having, itself, a fold-forming edge. 5

6. including a leg portion havingarc-shaped front and rear faces which terminate in two oppositely-disposed crease-producingedges; a foot-portion flattening front and rear surfaces which terminate in crease-producing edges; and an integral heel-section outstanding from the leg and foot-portionsand having a foldf-orming edge lying in a plane between the crease-producing edges of the leg and footportions; the leg and foot-portions and the heel-se'ctionbei'ng hollow to contain a heating medium. I

formed. as a continuationof-thefoot portion; the leg and foot-portions and the.

and a. heel- A hosiery drying and shaping form;

having arc-shaped fabric A hosiery. drying and" shaping form, J hollow tQfCOIllifllIl: a heat-lng medlum and having a'partition to form an internal chan nel in V the form; the: latterhaving arcshaped fro'ntand rear faces which termlnater in two oppositelydisposed crease producing ing from" the leg; and footportions and having, itself a fabric-folding'edge that lies be- 7 tween the crease-producing edges of the form, if

"8'. hosierydrying and, shaping form having arc-shaped front and rear faces which terminate in "oppositely-disposed crease-producing edges and including an elongated leg-portion, a foot-portion extending in longitudinal alinement" therewith, and a heel-section outstanding from the ,leg

ing edge formed thereon between the creaseproducing edges of the leg, and foot-portions; the form being hollow and channeled internally to contain a heating medium, and

having a seam-receiving groove extending centrally of the form along the leg and fOOtf portionsand centrally of the heel-section.

9; A hosiery drying and shaping form in-' cluding an elongated leg-portion; a footortion extendin in lon itudinal alinement rb b therewith; and an integral heel-section be;

'tweengg the foot and leg-portions and outstanding substantially beyond the plane thereof; theleg andyfoot-portions each having two oppositely-disposed arc-shaped fabrlc'.

flattening surfaces and two oppositely-dis posed crease-producing edges,- and the heel section having a crease-producing edge eX- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature of two witnesses. w 1

THOMAS F. OCONNELL.

Witnesses: V 1 p H. J: Gmsnnm;

A. BAGKMAN.

in presence and foot-portions and having a fabric-.foldtending transversely of the form -and:at an 

